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As the Chamber prepares to dim its lights for the year and spend the remaining days of 2015 focused on family and friends, I’d like to reflect and take stock on some of our key activities over the past year as we look at the year ahead and all there is to achieve in 2016.

Last week, we gathered with family and friends and observed our national day of gratitude. As Thanksgiving drew to a close, it signaled the holiday season being in full swing – and where better to spend this special time of year than in San Francisco?

If San Francisco solely had followed the advice of economic consultants when making land-use decisions, rather than seeking a balance of public uses, biotech and other commercial and residential uses, Mission Bay likely would be offices,

Last night we announced the winners of the Chamber’s 2015 Excellence in Business – or ‘Ebbies’ – Awards at the 24th annual gala event. This year’s ceremony, presented by Bank of America Merrill Lynch,

What do a $3 billion stem cell research headquarters, Consumer Report’s 2014 “Best U.S. Airline,” and the nation’s most attended solar exhibition all have in common? The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Virgin America, and Intersolar North America — and the millions of dollars in economic activity that they generate in this region —

San Francisco’s neighborhood stores and restaurants are the backbone of our economy. They shape our communities, enhance our neighborhoods and are part of the character that forms our city. In fact, small businesses employ approximately half of all San Francisco workers and comprise nearly 90 percent of all our businesses.

San Francisco’s red-hot economy has created untold opportunities for entrepreneurs and dreamers of all types. A recent study by a division of the London-based Financial Times named San Francisco as the top city in the United States for economic potential.

Starting today, the minimum wage in San Francisco will increase to one of the highest in the nation. We’re joining together as San Franciscans — leaders in government, labor and business — to call on Sacramento and Washington,

With 26,000 patents granted in a decade and recent growth in foreign investment, San Francisco ranks No. 1 overall for economic potential for 2015-16, according to fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times.

There’s no question that the Bay Area and California face significant challenges, from high housing costs to an economic recovery that has left far too many individuals and families behind. The New York Times this month even asked whether California “has run up against the limits of nature” with nearly 40 million people struggling with the drought.

You can leave your heart in San Francisco. You just can’t afford to live here.

That’s the takeaway of a poll of 600 San Francisco voters commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce: Voters are deeply concerned about the cost of housing and their ability to control their cost of living.

One hundred years ago, the people of San Francisco came together to host the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a celebration of ingenuity and the human spirit. It’s time we came together again, this time to host one of the world’s greatest sporting events –

When Bernard J. Tyson, the Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente, accepted our invitation to speak at our upcoming CityBeat Breakfast, we were thrilled. We secured an industry leader who would share his insights into the future of health care and tell us how an organization with 175,000 employees attracts and develops talent.

While thousands of votes remain to be counted — and the political insiders are already focusing on the November 2015 mayor’s race — San Francisco voters agreed with ballot recommendations of the Chamber of Commerce virtually across the board. Measures supporting The City’s transportation,

The list of positive attributes and amenities that we San Franciscans enjoy as residents is boundless. In fact, English writer Rudyard Kipling is quoted as having said, “San Francisco has only one drawback—‘tis hard to leave.” While we all would likely agree that the short story innovator wasn’t far off the mark,

This year, Leadership San Francisco – what I believe to be the Bay Area’s premier leadership development program – is celebrating 30 years of educating and developing community trustees to prepare to make significant contributions to our community. That’s an impressive achievement and,

In January, the Chamber of Commerce identified seven focus areas to support employers, drive economic prosperity, and enhance the quality of Bay Area life. With the Board of Supervisors returning from its summer break, we’re taking a quick look back to measure our progress at City Hall,

This blog provides me with an opportunity to share my thoughts directly with you about timely matters that are absolutely critical to the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s mission. Often times I focus on a piece of pending legislation that can impact San Francisco’s business climate,

The late Bill Walsh, one of the most revered Bay Area sports luminaries who built the 49ers into one of the greatest franchises in NFL history, authored a book entitled, “The Score Takes Care of Itself.” Although Walsh’s book outlines the requirements of successful leadership that can be applied in all professions,

The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has long advocated for San Franciscans to embrace the technology industry – and the recent news that Google is substantially expanding its existing presence downtown is a clear signal that the world’s largest search engine is most certainly embracing our city.

California High-Speed Rail was given a strong vote of confidence last month when Governor Jerry Brown and the California Legislature passed a prudent budget for the state, which includes the establishment of a reliable funding source for this critically important transportation project.

California is the birthplace of movie making and the burgeoning global film industry. Our state is home to every major movie studio, boasts a vast network of production facilities and continues to lure top talent. Yet, California is losing its status as the movie capital of the world,

George Lucas has made an indelible impact on San Francisco and the Bay Area. From the blockbuster films – and thousands of jobs – he has created here, to his investments in the Presidio including the Letterman Digital Arts Center and Industrial Light &

How we accommodate formula retail or “chain stores” in San Francisco has been a subject of much debate for more than a decade. After many months of discussion and study, the city’s Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors are preparing to weigh in on recommendations from the Planning Department to modify existing policies and redefine where and how formula retailers can operate in our city moving forward.

Affordability is a top concern of San Franciscans as costs, especially of housing, continue to rise. Our city has taken some important steps to bring more housing online with the passage of the Housing Trust Fund and projects such as the Hunters Point Shipyard redevelopment and Mid-Market revitalization.

San Francisco continues to struggle with issues of affordability and displacement. These complex problems have not been caused by the technology sector, targeted tax incentives or any other single industry or city policy. They have developed over decades in conjunction with increasing population growth,

There is a long list of reasons why San Francisco and cities around the country are working to fight against graffiti vandalism. The unlawful markings damage the appearance of buildings and public spaces, add to blight and crime in our communities,

Last week, over two dozen Bay Area business and civic leaders traveled to Washington, D.C. with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to make their voices heard on issues important to their businesses and our city. This year’s CityTripDC delegation met with more than a dozen top lawmakers and department officials to express support for infrastructure investment,

San Francisco is facing a problem of affordability. The City’s median home price continues to rise and remains the highest in the Bay Area at $957,000. Average rents now stand at $3,350 per month. The costs of transportation and other necessities are rising.

Since the 1960s, San Francisco’s Central Market area has struggled with blight and crime. Once a vibrant hub for retail and the arts, the neighborhood has experienced decades of decline due to public and private disinvestment in real estate, street improvements and other programs.

For more than 160 years, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has provided a forum for the city’s business community to connect, access resources and advance business and economic prosperity. Our chamber – like most others across the country – has offered these services primarily through membership in our organization.

As the New Year begins, San Francisco is poised for another year of economic success. Unemployment is holding steady at 5.2 percent, tax revenues supporting the General Fund are at record levels, and the urban life in our city continues to attract residents and visitors.

As San Francisco’s economy continues to rebound from the Great Recession, the impacts of both a growing population and employment base have taken center stage. The Examiner article, the “Forces of Change in San Francisco” recently spotlighted many of the positive impacts of employment growth,

As the Golden State Warriors kick-off another exhilarating season, momentum is building for the team’s return to San Francisco and the state-of-the-art arena and entertainment venue they plan to call home by the start of the 2017-18 basketball season. And it’s not just fans who are excited.

Since the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway over 20 years ago, San Francisco’s waterfront has enjoyed a renaissance of new development that has transformed the area into one of the most iconic – and visited – parts of the city.

Since the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) voted to revoke City College of San Francisco’s accreditation if it cannot right its course within the next year, there has been much posturing and finger-pointing over the commission’s judgment and the process it used in reaching its decision.

The 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion and fire was a tragic event. Those effected – and Californians across the state – are saddened, angry and rightfully concerned about pipeline and infrastructure safety. A significant penalty is an appropriate response for this terrible accident.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) stood up for our city’s utility customers Tuesday when it pulled the plug on the CleanPowerSF program. Crafted pursuant to a state law allowing local entities to compete with investor owned utilities, this Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) project was flawed from the start.